IAS Preparation Questions for Prelims: 5 April 2018

The current affairs quizzes help IAS aspirants in the upcoming Civil Services IAS Exam 2018. The questions have been framed from recent important happenings in India and around the world.

By Athar Imam Raza

Apr 5, 2018 14:58 IST

IAS Preparation Questions for Prelims: 5 April 2018

To crack IAS Exam, continuous study to master the current affairs component is a must during IAS preparation. To answer current affairs based questions in IAS Prelims Exam, one should not only have the basic information about the current events, but also the clarity about the issues and concepts involved.

1. Recently, the Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. The approved MoU is on the establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest. 2. The MoU was signed on 17th February 2018 during the visit of the President of Iran.3. The MoU will promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of trade remedies such as exchange of information, capacity building activities, cooperation in investigations related to anti-dumping and countervailing duty, etc.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 1 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d

Explanation:

The Union Cabinet chaired has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran on the establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The MoU was signed on 17th February 2018 during the visit of the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani.

The MoU will promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of trade remedies such as exchange of information, capacity building activities, cooperation in investigations related to anti-dumping and countervailing duty, etc.

2. As per the Symantec's ‘Internet Security Threat Report 2017’, India placed at which of the following rankings?a. 2b. 3c. 4d. 5

Answer: c

Explanation:

India emerged as the third most vulnerable country in terms of risk of cyber threats, such as malware, spam and ransomware, in 2017, moving up one place over a previous year, according to a report by security solutions provider Symantec. In 2017, 5.09% of global threats detected were in India, slightly less than 5.11% in 2016. The U.S. (26.61%) was most vulnerable to such attacks, followed by China (10.95%), according to ‘Internet Security Threat Report’.

The global threat ranking is based on eight metrics — malware, spam, phishing, bots, network attacks, web attacks, ransomware and crypto miners. As per the report, India continues to be second most impacted by spam and bots, third most impacted by network attacks, and fourth most impacted by ransomware.

The report also pointed out that with the threat landscape becoming more diverse, attackers are working harder to discover new avenues of attack and cover their tracks while doing so.

3. Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Cooperation Arrangement between FSSAI, MoH&FW and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL), Afghanistan for cooperation in the field of Food Safety and related areas. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. Under the MoU, the establishment of a mechanism of information exchange and communication would be done.2. The MoU will facilitate technical exchange on identified topics of interest especially about import procedures, quality control operations, sampling, testing, packaging and labelling.

The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Cooperation Arrangement between Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL), Afghanistan for cooperation in the field of Food Safety and related areas.

The areas of cooperation include the following:

• Establishment of a mechanism of information exchange and communication;

4. The Union Cabinet has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime of the United Arab Emirates on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. The MoU will provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector.2. The MoU will facilitate the exchange of information, expert meetings, seminars technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects.3. The identified areas of cooperation inter alia include high-speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world-class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 1 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d

Explanation:

The Union Cabinet has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime of the United Arab Emirates on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector. The MoU was signed on 10th February 2018.

The MoU will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:-

a. Regulation, safety and technical investigation of accidents;

b. Station redevelopment;

c. Locomotives, coaches and wagons; and

d. Any other area jointly identified by the Participants.

Benefits:

The MoU will provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. The MoU will facilitate the exchange of information, expert meetings, seminars technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects.

Background:

Ministry of Railways has signed MoUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. The identified areas of cooperation inter alia include high-speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world-class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. The cooperation is achieved through the exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest.

5. Recently, the Union Cabinet has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Canada. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. The MoU aims at fostering cross-border partnerships focused on research excellence and industry-academic collaboration between India and Canada that brings robust innovation gains to both countries.2. The MoU enables Indian and Canadian researchers to undertake graduate-level academic research mobility and cross-border industry-academic cooperation.3. The collaboration is expected to lead to new knowledge creation, joint scientific publications, Industrial exposure, IP generation, etc.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 1 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d

Explanation:

The Union Cabinet has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Canada. The MoU was signed on 21st February 2018 in New Delhi.

The MoU aims at fostering cross-border partnerships focused on research excellence and industry-academic collaboration between India and Canada that brings robust innovation gains to both countries.

Igniting collaboration through talent mobility is the core of the partnership. The MoU enables Indian and Canadian researchers to undertake graduate-level academic research mobility and cross-border industry-academic cooperation. Under the graduate level academic research mobility programme, both sides intend to support upto 110 Master's and PhD student researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in a three-year period from eligible universities in India to participate in 12 to 24 weeks' research with Canadian university research laboratories. The same number of researchers from Canadian universities will also participate in 12 to 24 weeks' research with research laboratories of eligible Indian universities. Under the cross-border Industry-Academic Cooperation, upto 40 Master's and PhD student researchers in three years from each side participate in 16 to 24 weeks' research with industry partners located in the counterpart country.

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